Michael long



(No Model.)

. LONG.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

No. 245,843. Patented Aug. 16,1881.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL LONG, OF LOGKPORT, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EDWIN A.DO'IY, QF SAME PLACE.

VE HlCLE-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 245,843, dated August16, 1881.

Application filed February 23, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I,MICHAEL Lone, of Lockport, in the county of Niagaraand State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementson Wheels for Vehicles and I do hereby declare that the followingdescription of my said invention, taken in connection with theaccompanying sheet of drawings, forms a full, clear, and exactspecification, which will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention has general reference to wooden wheels for vehicles; andits object is the production of a cheap, strong, and durable wheelpossessing within itself the means for tightening the rim, substantiallyas hereinafter first fully set forth and described, and then pointed outin the claim.

In the drawings, which serve to illustrate my said invention more fully,Figure l is an elevation of a vehicle-wheel constructed in accordancewith my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan. Fig. 3 is a face view ofthe hub, the front clamping-plate being removed to expose theconstruction of the hub and spokes. Fig. etis a sectional elevation inline 0000 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of thehub-sections.

Like parts are designated by corresponding letters of reference in allthe ti gures.

A in said drawings designates the axle of any vehicle constructed in theusual manner, and provided with a hub-box, B, having an enlargedportion, 0, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. Upon this box are placed twometallic hubsections, D D, respectively, said sections consistingeach ofa disk,E, having radial ribsF and projections Gr, whereby mortises H areformed in said hub-sections to receive the tenons I of the spokes J,said tenons being provided with notches I, fitting the projections G insuch manner that when said spokes are placed into the recesses formed bythe radial ribs F they are locked in position by the projections Gengaging the notches I in said spoke-tenons I. By thus constructing thehub and tenons I have produced a wheel superior in strength to any wheelwith which I am acquainted.

Upon the hub-box B, and nearest to the enlarged portion 0, is placed aplate or washer,

K, and interposed between this and the hubsection D is an elastic orflexible washer, L, said hub-section being placed in such position uponsaid box that the spoke-tenons I are near est to the said elastic washerL.

Between the two hub-sections D D are interposed a series of elastic orflexible washers, M, the object'of which will hereinafter be explained.On the outer side ofthehub-section D is placed another washer, N, and anelastic or flexible disk, 0, said hub-section being so placed upon saidbox B that the tenons I are covered by said disk 0 and washer N.

The two hub-sections D D are retained upon the hub-box B by means of alock-nut, 1, engaging a screw-threaded portion on the end of said box,and the hub-box is held in position upon the axle A by the axle-nut Q,said axlenut and the end of the hub-box being covered by a screw-cap, R,for protection and other ob- VlOllS reasons.

The spokes J are convergingly arrangedthat is to say, all the spokes ofthe two hub-sections D D meet the center line of the fellies, thusproducing a wheel having a double dish. In the drawings I haveillustrated a wheel hav ing eighteen spokes, nine of which are radiating from the hub-section D and the remainder from the hub-section D, saidtwo sections being so placed upon the hub-box B that their respectivespokes are staggered or braced. By thus constructing the spokes in twosections, placing one half in the hub-section D and the other in thehub-section D, I am enabled to reduce the diameter of the hub, andthereby to reduce the weight of the same to a considerable degree,without decreasing the dimensions of the spoke-tenons; on the contrary,even with my smaller hub, I am enabled to make the tenons larger thanthose of ordinary wheels having a like number of spokes.

It will now be readily observed that on account of the washers Mintroduced between the two hub-sections D D these are set apart by meansof the lock-nut P. Such an operation has the effect of expanding the rimor fell y U of the wheel in a manner readily understood, so that if, byshrinkage of the wood or other self-evident and obvious reasons, thetire T should become loose, it may be tightened by the operation ofremoving washers, 850., ashereinbefore explained.

It will be further observed that on account of the introduction of thewashers L, M, and O, the whole wheel acquires a degree of elasticity andnoiselessness not to be attained by any other method of construction.

Heretofore wheels have been made consisting of metallic bands having adisk provided with radial ribs forming mortises for the tenons of thespokes, said ribs having projections engaging notches in the tenons ofsaid spokes.

I do therefore not claim, broadly, such a de vice; nor do I claim,broadly, a wheel having 20 N, and locking-nut P, substantially in theman- 0 ner as and for the object specified.

' MICHAEL LONG.

Witnesses:

OHAs. U. DELUDE, THOMAS BOODGER.

